Cotter man charged with rape

A Cotter man, 34-year-old Roger Lynn Hicks, incarcerated in the Baxter County Detention Center since Wednesday afternoon on a misdemeanor count of child endangerment and non-payment of child support, is now charged with rape.

Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says the newest charge, a Class Y felony, follows an investigation into the alleged rape of an 11-year-old female on Jan. 18 in Midway. The incident was reported to law enforcement Jan. 23.

As part of the investigation, the clothing the victim was wearing on the night of the alleged rape was collected, packaged, and taken into evidence. Those items were then sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for forensic evaluation. DNA samples from sperm cells were found on one or more of the submitted articles.

Montgomery says on May 2, the sheriffs office was notified the DNA samples collected from the victims clothing matched a known DNA sample on file from Hicks.

A subsequent DNA sample was sought from the Cotter man for confirmation purposes. A Baxter County circuit judge issued an order for a DNA sample to be obtained from Hicks.

Montgomery says during an interview with sheriffs investigators, Hicks invoked his rights and refused to answer any questions. A circuit judge approved a probable cause affidavit Thursday for the issuance of an arrest warrant charging Hicks with rape.

His bond will be set at $100,000 on the latest charge, and he is set to appear in circuit court on or before June 20.